Chapter two

Watt stormed out into the dark streets suddenly sober with rage. 'It's not bloody fair,' he thought kicking a cartwheel as he marched swiftly back along the riverside, ' I try and be nice, to defend her and she gets all narked off! I know she's got a thing about blokes helpin' 'er out but that's taking the biscuit. She should learn to accept some 'elp every now and again.'

He sat down miserably and looked out onto the river. The fog was rising so he couldn't see much. On the other side of the bank he could just make out the stadium. He thought back to how it was before all of this 'Ulrich' business. He'd liked it then, things weren't so complicated. It had just been the lads. All they'd cared about was their next meal and how many pints they could buy with their winnings. 'Not a bloody woman in sight!' Watt smiled to himself.

A sudden noise drew his attention to an alleyway. It was a scuffling sort of noise. Cautiously Watt approached the mouth of the alley, treading lightly on the cobbled ground. He approached with caution because, despite being 'a little violent' as he put it, he was not a stupid man. He knew that walking into a dark London alley was a bloody stupid thing to do. For starters there was no guarantee that you'd come back out again. On the other hand someone might be hurt.

"OI," he called, "anyone in there?"

When there was no reply he reluctantly made his way in, glancing briefly over his shoulders to make sure that he was not being followed. About halfway in he saw a pile of rags piled in a heap, they were shaking. Fighting the instinct to run Watt lent closer. As he did so he felt an enormous pain in the back of his head. Everything went black.

William and Jocelyn rose very early the next morning. Both smiling broadly as they made their way down to the hall. It was still decorated as it had been last night but was now empty. Despite how early it was outside they could hear raised voices, it sounded like a mob.

"What's going on?" William enquired as he looked out of the window. The streets were lined with people, all making a tremendous racket.

"Must be the parade to see the Prince off." Jocelyn smiled, turning Will around and drawing him into a passionate kiss. As she did so the door burst open and in marched Roland and Chaucer led by a very angry Kate.

"Where the hell have you been?" She demanded angrily.

"In bed, most people are at dawn." Will replied, slightly disturbed to see her so angry. "What's so important?"

"It's Watt?" Roland panted, he looked dead on his feet.

"What's he done now?" William sighed rolling his eyes.

"He's been arrested." Rolland informed him as he collapsed into the nearest chair

"Oh What?" Will moaned "What did he do?"

"He's been accused of the murder of a rich merchant." Chaucer said in a worried voice "Will, they'll hang him for this."

"Murder?" Spluttered Will "He wouldn't.. I mean not even Watt would."

"He was found drunk asleep by the body, knife in hand." Chaucer shook his head sadly but remained calm.

"No!" Protested Will "No he wouldn't."

"The whole court saw him argue with the man." Jocelyn reminded him matter of flatly. She hadn't known Watt long and he had struck her as the violent sort.

"Watt didn't do it"! Kate snarled angrily in Jocelyn's face. Chaucer and Will moved her away as Jocelyn stared shocked at her outburst.

"He wouldn't have gone after him," Will shot angrily at Jocelyn. "He'd calmed down when I left him."

"He was a little agitated when he left." Chaucer said as diplomatically as possible.

"Watt left before you?" Will asked surprised "Do you know where he went?"

"No, But um..." Chaucer trailed off.

"What?" Demanded Will "Spit it out Geoff for goodness sake!"

"Lord Ademar saw him along the riverbank VERY wound up." Chaucer sighed, not meeting Wills eye. "He was the one that discovered the body."

"Adhemar?" Jocelyn replied shocked as Will growled.

"Well there you go. He's trying to get back at me".

"Adhemar's a knight." Jocelyn protested as the others stared at her in disbelief "He wouldn't lie about something like this. He wouldn't kill an innocent man out of revenge"

"Oh but Watt would kill someone?" Kate demanded angrily.

"He was drunk. You know him best," She said turning to Will, "you've seen how violent he is."

"Yes!" Will snapped at her "I know him best, I know he's more noble than that git Adhemar's ever likely to be."

"After his performance last night!" Jocelyn's voice rose shrilly as they ganged up on her "It's not surprising that he's..."

"How can you say that." Kate interrupted "You don't even know what he's like. He can be a great bloke once you get to know him"

"This is true my lady." Chaucer said graciously in an attempt to cool the situation down. "I must admit my first impressions of Watt were indeed similar to your own. But after a while I got to know him for the big girls blouse that he is"

"He'd kill you if he heard you say that" Rolland said in a mock cheerful tone.

"Where wasting time." Will said decisively and began to pace. He was plainly very worried. "We need to get to Watt and hear his side of the story"

"If he wasn't too drunk to remember it" Rolland chimed in.

"I think that slitting a merchants throat in an alley's something that'd stick out in your mind." Said Chaucer.

"I don't know that they'll let us see him." Kate said almost hysterically "He's at the tower."

"The tower?!" Will repeated. He was shocked, only serious offenders were sent there "Who was this merchant?"

"He was the kings wine supplier" Chaucer sighed closing his eyes.

"Watt's in BIG trouble" Rolland said rising "Come on they have to let us see him."

"I think it's best that someone stays here." Chaucer told them "In case they send 'Sir William' here a message."

"Good thinking." Rolland nodded

"Kate you and Joc.." Will began.

"I'm coming with you." Kate said flatly.

"Fine. Jocelyn wait here."

Watt awoke with a pain in his head and his bottom. It appeared that he'd been sleeping on a hard, uncomfortable and cobbled floor. Both cheeks were asleep. He rose gingerly but found his progress hindered by a large chain around his neck. It choked him before he'd reached his full height and slammed him painfully back to the floor. He couldn't focus properly yet but felt sure that he was somewhere that he'd never been before. In the distance he could hear a slow and steady roar that he felt may well have been inside his head. 'What a hangover!' He thought taking in his new surroundings. He was somewhere underground. It was so dark that he could barely see a thing. The walls were dripping wet stone, as was the floor. He was locked in a room with a bald and toothless old man wearing shackles and tattered robes. The man was obviously pretending to sleep as he opened his eyes twice mid 'snore'

"Oi" Watt bellowed, making his head throb even more "OI! Where the bloody hell am I?"

"Prison" The man muttered opening his eyes now.

"PRISON?" Watt yelped 'must stop shouting' He told himself

"The tower to be precise." The old man smiled, showing nothing but rotting gums.

"THE TOWER?" Watts head throbbed again 'Damn'

"You a bloody parrot or sumfin'?" The man laughed

"What the hell am I doing here.?" Watt moaned confused.

"How the hell should I know?" The man shrugged "Not exactly on top of the gossip down 'ere. I think it might 'ave sumfin' to do with that though." He nodded towards a high window. Watt listened. The noise that he'd thought was his hangover was chanting.

"MURDERER!" The crowd roared "LET 'IM HANG!"

"Murder?" Watt gasped in shock "I ain't murdered anyone! I'd 'ave remembered"

"I'd come up with a better defence than that if I were you mate." The elderly prisoner laughed "I 'eard the guards talking. You're to be hanged at the end o' the week."

"Bugger!"